Posted by Hazard Assessment Team of UPRI NOAH Center
The UPRI NOAH Hazard Assessment Team and the Knowledge Sharing Division participated in a two-day training held on May 5–6, 2025. Building on the knowledge and skills acquired during the Geo-INQUIRE training in Norway, Dr. Likha Minimo and Mr. Raymond Gallego facilitated the sessions, aiming to share and disseminate advanced modeling techniques with the UPRI colleagues.
The first day began with a brief orientation and an overview of the modeling software programs (Clawpack, GeoClaw, and BingClaw), highlighting their applications and key differences. These models are useful in probabilistic hazard modeling of cascading coastal and submarine landslide-tsunami hazards. A hands-on installation and configuration session followed, allowing participants to set up the necessary tools with guidance on debugging and verification procedures.
In the afternoon, the training delved into the specific capabilities of each software. Clawpack and GeoClaw were introduced in the context of shallow-water equations and basic simulation tasks, while BingClaw was discussed in greater depth. Participants were then guided through setting up the Abuyog landslide-tsunami case study, including working with input files, geospatial data, and visualization tools, followed by troubleshooting common setup issues.
Day two built on this foundation by simulating the Abuyog landslide scenario that happened last 12 April 2022. In the afternoon, participants conducted basic tsunami modeling using Clawpack, with an emphasis on applying the software to localized data despite limitations of the shallow-water model. The training concluded with an open Q&A, final troubleshooting, and a discussion of next steps for applying the tools to future modeling projects.
This training plays a vital role in enhancing hazard assessment in the Philippines, a country vulnerable to landslides and tsunamis due to its geographic and climatic profile. By equipping participants with practical experience in advanced modeling tools, UPRI researchers can more effectively simulate and analyze potential disaster scenarios. These capabilities are essential for generating accurate risk assessments, strengthening early warning systems, and informing evidence-based mitigation strategies. Ultimately, this contributes to safeguarding lives and fortifying communities against the escalating threats posed by natural hazards.